A Stroll Over The Mighty Ottawa River

One Sunday back in August, I decided to go seek out a place I haven't explored before, a park on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. Today we're going to start taking a look at that walkabout. Rather than take the usual Alexandra Bridge across, I chose the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge to the east. This view is taken from Sussex Drive as I crossed over.

The Ottawa River along much of its length forms the lion's share of the boundary between Ontario and Quebec, and is wide here. The park I was headed to is Leamy Lake Park (Parc Ecologique du Lac Leamy), the wooded area over to the left. The Gatineau River finds its outlet into the Ottawa River there. I had never been there before.

Here is a view of Earnscliffe, the residence of the British High Commissioner, which I last showed you during Doors Open. It stands overlooking the river, a couple of minutes walk away from the bridge. The second view taken at more of a distance shows its neighbours, the National Research Council on its left, and the foreign ministry to its right.

This is something we don't see on the Alexandra Bridge- a clear marker of where the provinces begin and end. On the other side of the bridge, a similar sign is marked welcoming you into Ontario.

The Ottawa River is a big one, travelling over 1270 kilometres from its headwaters to its outlet in the St. Lawrence at Montreal. Here in the National Capital Region, the river has begun its final section, wide and well traveled. I had never crossed the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge on foot before; I have driven across, but on foot it's a different experience. This bridge is the last one over the river in the city; downstream from here you have to drive out to the Hawkesbury area an hour away to cross the river by bridge.

It also offers a different perspective of the Rideau Falls, which of course are east of Earnscliffe.

Here we are on the Gatineau side of the river. Jacques Cartier Park actually extends eastward a good deal, adjoining Leamy Lake Park, and these views take in the Rideau Falls on the far shore.

A Finale For Doors Open

Earnscliffe is a photographer's dream from the outside. It is beautiful inside too, though photography inside is not allowed. John A. Macdonald died here in 1891 in a room on the second floor, a room that today is largely preserved as it was. It was the passing of a man who, among all of our Fathers of Confederation, was the driving force of it all. It's a fitting home for Britain's top diplomat to Canada, and not that far from work- the High Commission is near the National War Memorial and the National Arts Centre.

It might well be a very English thing to tend to gardens, and the grounds here are well seen to. This statue always seems to catch my eye when I visit.

This view looks out onto the river, with Gatineau on the far shore.

There was an outdoor tent set up for tea, which included a table set up for a shop, Jacobsons, that happens to be nearby and sells British goods.

I contented myself with taking more exterior shots of the residence, which was a busy place, before going inside. Thus ends this year's Doors Open series. I hope it has been enjoyable for you.

Paying A Visit To Earnscliffe

I am finishing my Doors Open series with two posts from Earnscliffe, a place steeped in Canadian history. This was the final home of our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, his wife Agnes, and their family. Today it is the official residence of the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom. 

This red phone box was just inside the gate. So too was the classic car. 

Approaching the house itself, one passes by the gardens, which are very well tended.

The house was first built in 1855, with additions and modifications by subsequent owners. In 1883 it came to be purchased by Sir John. The Victorian manor occupies a prime place on the cliffs overlooking the Ottawa River, and a prominent place along Sussex Drive. It was a surprise to see a Sir John re-enactor on the premises- though this one had facial hair!

Earnscliffe

Here are some more shots from around Earnscliffe. The manor, which got its start at the hands of Thomas McKay, a businessman whose legacy looms large here, ended up in the hands of Prime Minister Macdonald in 1883 when he bought it. Macdonald died here on the 6th of June, 1891- a fact noted by a volunteer inside, given that the following Monday marked the 125th anniversary of his passing. The British government purchased it in 1930 and it has served as a home for the top diplomat from the UK ever since. As you can imagine, it's quite popular for Doors Open visitors, though photography inside is not allowed.

This brings to an end my Doors Open series for this year. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Roughing It

Happy Bastille Day to readers in France!

I stopped at a place for Doors Open which will serve as my final two posts for the series. It was on the Saturday, so the weather was fine. The grounds had lovely flower beds and a beautiful view of the Ottawa River and Gatineau on the far side.

This property is Earnscliffe, the official residence of the British High Commissioner since the 1930s. The history of the building dates back to 1855, and was the last home of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Photo Of The Year

The first day of each month is always a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and as is always the case with January, the theme happens to be Photo Of The Year, a theme chosen by Jack. You can see which favourite photos other members chose from at this link.

As usual, I can't narrow it down to one, so here we start roughly chronologically through the year. Winterlude is our February festival marking the best season of the year, and ice carvings can be found in Confederation Park as part of the celebrations. This one was my favourite ice sculpture.

Another major Ottawa festival is the Tulip Festival in May. This first shot is from the tulip beds on Parliament Hill.

This second tulip bed is across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, facing the Hill and the Ottawa skyline, from the grounds of the Museum of History.

This bust of one of our former governor generals, Lord Elgin, was on display inside the museum as part of a temporary exhibit. I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures (again, sorry, didn't see the sign until I was leaving), but the way the bust is lit like this had such a dramatic look to it.

In June, we had our annual weekend Doors Open, which sees more than a hundred buildings of significance opened to the public to come and have a look at. This year I stopped at Earnscliffe, the official residence of the High Commissioner of Great Britain. Back in the day it was home to our first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, who died in one of its rooms.

I stopped a couple of times at Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada's Governor General. The first shot is from the outside. The second shot is within the Ballroom.

It seems appropriate to end this with a curtain call. Allison Blakley is a member of the Ottawa Dance Directive, and here at Arts Court, she was putting on a performance mixing together a child's bedroom, the pinata, and Beethoven's Sixth Symphony as part of the one night Nuit Blanche arts festival. Allison's take on Fantasia was my favourite act of the evening, and her expression just makes the shot work marvelously.